BDS activist denied entry to Israel

Israel denies entry to chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which works to promote boycotts of Israel.

Ido Ben Porat, 13/03/17 00:28

BDS graffiti sign

Miriam Alster/Flash 90

The Population and Immigration Authority and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs on Sunday evening denied entry to Israel to Hugh Lanning, chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), an anti-Israel group which openly supports Hamas, Hezbollah and other extremist organizations.

PSC is the leading anti-Israel organization in the UK and one of the largest in Europe in general. The organization works in close cooperation with other delegitimization organizations to promote boycotts and other activities against Israel.

Members of the organization also took part in the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010. The official website of the organization includes calls for boycotts against Israel.

Following consultations held on Sunday evening by the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, together with the Immigration Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was decided to prevent Hugh Lanning from entering Israel. He is expected to fly back to the UK in the morning.

Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan (Likud) said that his ministry, together with the Interior Ministry, leads a policy of denial of entry into Israel of individuals who try to harm the state.

"Anyone who acts against Israel should understand that reality has changed. No sane country would allow entry of boycott activists who want to harm and isolate it,” said Erdan.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) said that "whoever acts against Israel and does everything he can to harm its security must understand that we are leading a determined policy that will no longer ignore activists that undermine our existence. The decision made tonight is a categorical statement against boycott activists. The boycott law which passed in the Knesset is another step in the implementation of this policy.”